ouded light showing burnished green
leaves and dancing water. I bowed my head to the woman's hand to bid
her good-morning, and I served her with meal cakes and sweet water from
a maple tree. I was reckless of Pierre's eyes, though I knew them to
be weasel sharp for certain sides of life. The woman answered me but
scantily, and when we were embarked sat quiet in the bottom of the
canoe. I forbore to look at her.

The men feared my mood that day, so paddled well. I charged them not
to speak nor sing, for I would have no wasted breath, and the sombre
shore, pine and tamarack and savage rock, passed before us like
pictures dropping from a roll. Toward sunset I sighted a canoe full of
warriors, and when we drew near I saw that they were Pottawatamies.

"Are we near your islands?" I hailed.

The men bowed toward the southwest. "The space of the star rising, and
you will reach them if you travel," spoke the tallest. "You ride fast.
I have seen you come like the white squall on the water."

I called again. "Does Father Nouvel tarry with you?" I cried.

I thought that they looked at the maid in the canoe. "He tarries,"
they answered.

I gave the signal and we slipped away. "To the shore," I commanded,
and the two canoes took new vigor. The men, like stall-fed beasts,
spurred themselves by the prospect of eating and idleness, and we were
soon at the beach. I bent over the woman.

"Be prepared," I whispered. "I must tell the men. If I play the clown
it is but to impress them, mademoiselle."

She met my glance with a look of entire understanding, and rising gave
me her finger tips and stepped from the canoe. I do not know how she
turned all in one instant from a sun-burned stripling to a great lady,
but that was what occurred. The men, stretching themselves as they
stepped to the shore, stopped and stared. I saw that I must speak
quickly.

"Let the canoes alone," I said. "We will stop here but a moment.
Go--all of you--and gather green twigs and young ferns, and flowers if
you can find them. Then bring them to me here. Go."

The men stood as jointless as tin images. But I saw that they were not
only dumfounded but afraid, so I laid my hand on my sword, to give them
better cause for their stupefaction. "Go!" I shouted again, and so
perverse is my nature that, though I knew well I had no cause for
merriment, I swallowed hard to keep back a smile.

The woman and I stood alone while the men jerked th